27 September 2017
The Green Party has called on the European Commission to step in and facilitate mediation between the Spanish government and Catalan authorities.
Their call, made in a letter [1] sent by Green Party politicians in the European Union to the Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, comes just days before a referendum in Catalonia on independence. In an apparent attempt to prevent the referendum the Spanish government has arrested Catalan officials and stormed the offices of local media outlets.
The Greens/EFA group has also requested that a debate on the situation be held in next week’s plenary session of the European Parliament. The decision will be made in the Conference of Presidents tomorrow (September 28).
Ska Keller, co-president of the Greens/EFA group, said:
“There is an urgent need for dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan authorities. The European Commission should promote dialogue and offer to mediate between the actors. It is in the best interests of those on all sides that a political solution is found to end the current deadlock.”
Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader of the Green Party said:
“The clock is ticking in Spain and with every hour that passes the need for action grows ever stronger. I am proud that Greens in Europe are leading the way towards a resolution and I hope that in the interests of Spain and its people their government listens to calls coming from the EU, sits down, and deals with this in a measured, democratic, and constructive manner.”
Notes:
1. https://www.greens-efa.eu/files/doc/docs/fe4cf2a7d961b813fd12935622e3d436.pdf
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